Piper PA-23-250 accident near Mesa, Arizona, April 7, 1986
On April 7, 1986 at about 9:28 am local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N555KS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Field). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1986 · about 9:28 am local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N555KS · registry record · serial 27-3744
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON THE FOURTH LEG OF AN IFR BUSINESS FLIGHT FROM STOW, OHIO TO SANTA PAULA, CALIFORNIA, THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION AND CRASHED ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES NORTHEAST OF FALCON FIELD (FFZ), MESA, ARIZONA. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE AUSPICIES OF KENT STATE UNIVERSITY'S FLIGHT DEPARTMENT. ALL OF THE OCCUPANTS WERE CERTIFICATED PILOTS, TWO OF WHICH WERE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS, INCLUDING THE UNIVERSITY'S DIRECTOR OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS/CHIEF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. THE PIC OF THE ACCIDENT SEGMENT WAS A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. THE PIC NOTED ON THE FLIGHT PLAN AN ENROUTE FLIGHT TIME OF 4 HOURS, AND 5 HOURS TOTAL FUEL. THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY AIRPLANE PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. THE AIRPLANE'S BLOCK TIME WAS 4 HOURS AND 59 MINUTES.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 612 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 586 as pilot in command; 361 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,583 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 26, 1985; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AMA Amarillo TX at 4:41 am
- Destination: PHX Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:49 am from PHX, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.